<span>STORY: :: Electric plane that can take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane completed its first public test flight</span><span>:: Erding, Germany / 6 February 2026</span><span>:: Maximilian Oligschlaeger, ERC</span><span>”Our vision is that we will eventually be able to fly all missions that need to be flown. This means critical missions. What do I mean by this? For example, today, in many areas such as medical transportation, many patients are not transported by plane. We mainly have helicopters, but they are a very limited resource, so 98 percent of all transportation takes place on land. “The great thing about electric aviation is that it is much cheaper.” </span><span>The company focuses on military logistics, inter-hospital patient transportation, firefighting and cargo flights to the islands.</span><span>Christian Mueller-Ramcke from air rescue operator DRF Luftrettung explains that transporting patients between hospitals will be the main medical practice.</span><span>As many hospitals close, patient transfers increase.</span><span>He noted that electric planes would be cheaper than traditional helicopters due to simpler engines, faster than ground ambulances, and would save valuable time for expensive medical staff.</span><span>To overcome battery limitations, ERC plans to offer a hybrid version.</span><span>Electric motors will power both vertical and forward propellers, while an internal combustion engine will charge the batteries, increasing the range to approximately 800 kilometers.</span><span>Despite the financial turmoil in the EVTOL sector, the ERC says it is well-funded.</span><span>The company is a subsidiary of German technology company and Bundeswehr service provider IABG, which Oligschlaeger said has made a significant investment of double-digit million euros.</span>
